Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brunswick, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Brunswick, ME

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.8% cheaper than Brunswick, ME without rent, and 14.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.5% more expensive than Brunswick, ME without rent, and 27% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Brunswick, ME
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$30.13 $30.13
-30.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$121 $121
-17.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.85 $11.85
1.01%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.41 $6.41
-13.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.8 $2.8
11.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.31 $2.31
4.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.07 $5.07
35.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.81 $7.81
8.19%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Brunswick, ME
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.98 $0.98
6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.13 $3.13
32.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.53 $3.53
56.37%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.48 $2.48
87.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.95 $12.95
10.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.57 $10.57
40.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.04 $16.04
20.57%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.33 $3.33
55.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.53 $1.53
11.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.32 $4.32
2.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.85 $4.85
-7.01%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.19 $3.19
-20.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.49 $4.49
-38.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.46 $2.46
-1.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.84 $1.84
46.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.97 $8.97
69.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.19 $13.19
24.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.34 $1.34
75.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.86 $1.86
98.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Brunswick, ME
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.04 $2.04
63.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.64 $1.64
-13.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.68 $29.68
-14.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.3K $29.3K
10.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$37.2K $37.2K
-29.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Brunswick, ME
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$160 $160
17.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$55.1 $55.1
15.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$80.7 $80.7
-19.25%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Brunswick, ME
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.73 $43.73
75.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.77 $14.77
1.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Brunswick, ME
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,318 $1,318
56.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.6K $23.6K
66.15%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Brunswick, ME
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.2 $50.2
28.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$73.9 $73.9
-29.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$120 $120
-20.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$131 $131
10.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Brunswick, ME
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,597 $1,597
48.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,351 $1,351
17.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,486 $2,486
91.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,823 $1,823
54.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,384 $2,384
50.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,115 $2,115
17.76%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Brunswick, ME
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,796 $4,796
9.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.71
-1.64%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Brunswick, ME: October 27, 2025

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